I discovered I love cooking – and revealed the slim me!

42-year-old Hannah Barrs from Leicester joined Slimming World and discovered a taste for delicious, home-cooked meals. She lost 3st 4lbs* in nine months and shares her story – and her favourite recipes – right here...

"My weight didn’t become an issue until I went to university in 1991. All that sitting around studying, combined with pizzas and nights out drinking cider, meant I got gradually bigger. Although I tried to lose weight a number of times – I joined Slimming World briefly in 2008 – I didn’t really commit. I’d lose some weight, give up and put it straight back on.

"In 2011, we were on a family holiday when Dad had a stroke and nearly died. Spending the next three months visiting him in hospital made me think about my own health. On top of that, the relationship I was in ended and I was feeling pretty unhappy. So in January 2014, Mum and I joined Slimming World.

"When you live alone, it’s easy not to bother making meals from fresh ingredients – I would have always told you cooking wasn’t my thing. Now, I’m really into it. I cook batches of chilli or Bolognese sauce and freeze them, so I don’t turn to something unhealthy if I get home late. I’ve swapped my morning buttered white toast for filling porridge and make my own soup to microwave at work. In the evening I eat one of my frozen meals, an omelette with Slimming World chips, or a chicken dish using tinned tomatoes and herbs rather than a jar of ready-made sauce.

"I still enjoy some sweet treats, like my mum’s Slimming World Key lime pie, plus I always have Free or low-Syn yogurts in the fridge. I used to get a lot of migraines – now I know one of my triggers was too much sugar, as they’re much less frequent these days.

"I reached my target in September 2014 and I’ve maintained my weight since. Before joining Slimming World, whenever I tried to slim down I’d feel like I was “on a diet” and get bored. This time, I found it much easier to get into healthy habits and it didn’t seem like a chore – even for someone who didn’t “do” cooking!"

*Weight loss will vary due to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose